The main mistake of the developers of mobile applications is the confidence that the user will understand their product in two accounts. A person who invented it himself, put all his soul, time and talent there, it is difficult to assess the result from the outside.
Meanwhile, the number of applications is growing every day, which people delete 10 minutes after installation. Just because in these incomprehensible icons on the screen the features of a leg will break. Therefore, it is important to put yourself in the user's place. This will lead to 10 simple steps.
Step 1. Explore the area
For example, we create a fitness application for weight control, nutrition accounting and workouts. What do we need to know?
At a minimum - the rules for calculating proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The norms of the ratio of weight and height. Download a plate calories and energy value of meat, vegetables, fruits, cereals, etc.
The analysis should not be too deep. It is enough in general terms to understand what will be needed by a person who has decided to take up his figure.
Step 2. Identify the target audience
The main mistake of most customers - my product is needed by ALL. That's all who have mobile - all come in handy.
No, there is no universal product. The fitness application is needed for people who decide to adjust their figure or who regularly maintain a sports lifestyle and proper nutrition.
Identifying the audience at the first stage is important so that you can immediately know the parameters for promoting your product - through the same targeted advertising.
Step 3. Define user characteristics
What drives those who download your app? Make a portrait of users. There may be several.
For example:
Sergey is a solid businessman. He devotes all his free time to the gym. He knows everything about proteins, fats, carbohydrates and their workout standards. He needs an application in order to save his time on complicated calculations, which is almost nonexistent. For this, he downloads the application - so that it quickly does everything for them.
Maria is a student. He wants to lose 5-7 kilograms, but does not know where to start. He does not understand anything in the energy value of the products, does not know which training will help get rid of the tummy, and which are aimed at the ass-nut. Hopefully the app will help her figure it out.
Why do you need it? See step 4.
Step 4. Determine which tasks are important to the user and how often he will perform them.
All the functionality of the application can not be crammed into one screen. Need to prioritize. What functionality from different groups do users use more often and which less often? Based on this, distribute the complexity of access to a particular function.
Step 5. Design a specific user activity
Think about what steps users will perform in your application. Write them in stages. Do not yet think about how you will place the buttons. Just design the sequence.
Step 6. Simplify everything twice
Immediately estimate what steps can be automated, and which user will do himself. To drive into the calculator a calorie portion of buckwheat with chicken, which he ate, he will himself. Then the application will automatically give the number of calories. Or the user enters only the duration of the run on the track. Calories burned during this time will be calculated by the robot itself.
Step 7. Organize Screens
And now you can distribute the functionality between the screens. Screen layouts can do anywhere. Some of the popular options are Sketch and Keynote.
Step 8. Evaluate the user interface
How to test user interfaces, evaluate their effectiveness and convenience is a topic for a separate material. To do it efficiently, well and usably, read about card sorting, testing expectations and “mental run” - this is sure to come in handy. It is important to be able to assess how quickly and conveniently users manage to find the information they need.
Step 9. Aesthetics
And only at the last stage can you include your inner designer. Perhaps this is the most pleasant step of all nine.
Done! You are great, and your application is in great demand!
